Blower

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal blower includes a stator housing. The stator housing includes a radial contact surface which makes contact with a casing in a radial direction, a circumferential contact surface which makes contact with the casing in a circumferential direction, and an axial contact surface which makes contact with the casing in an axial direction. With such configuration, it is possible to reduce the vibration of the blower by increasing a contact area between the casing and the stator housing. Further, the stator housing includes a heat dissipating surface. As a result, it is possible to efficiently dissipate the heat, which is generated from the stator, from the heat dissipating surface of the stator housing to the gas existing within the wind tunnel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a centrifugal blower.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, there is known a centrifugal blower mounted to adevice having a blowing function, such as an artificial respirator, acleaner, a cooling fan or the like. In the centrifugal blower, animpeller disposed within a casing is rotated by the power of a motor,thereby sucking a gas from a suction port of the casing and dischargingthe gas from an exhaust port of the casing. Centrifugal blowers of therelated art are disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,854, U.S. Pat.No. 8,638,014 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0199129.

When a blower is driven, along with rotation of a rotor, vibration isgenerated in a stator. In the respective documents cited above, a statorof a motor is directly fixed to a casing. For that reason, in thestructures of the respective documents cited above, the vibrationgenerated in the stator is easily transferred to the casing. Thus, it isdifficult to reduce vibration and noises generated during the operationof the blower.

In order to reduce the vibration of the blower, it is thinkable tointerpose another member between the stator and the casing, therebycovering the periphery of the stator with another member. However,during the operation of the blower, the stator generates heat due to thepower supply to coils. Although vibration can be reduced by merelycovering the periphery of the stator with another member, it isdifficult to dissipate the heat generated in the stator. That is to say,in the centrifugal blower, the compatibility of vibration resistance andheat dissipation is a problem that involves technical difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda centrifugal blower, including: a casing; an impeller disposed withinthe casing; and a motor arranged to rotate the impeller about a centeraxis, wherein the casing includes an intake port opened toward a centerof the impeller, an exhaust port positioned radially outward of theimpeller and the motor, and a wind tunnel arranged to bring the intakeport and the exhaust port into communication with each other andarranged to extend in a ring shape around the motor, the motor includesa rotor fixed to the impeller either directly or through another member,a stator disposed radially outward of the rotor and arranged to generaterotating magnetic fields between the stator and the rotor, and a statorhousing arranged to hold the stator, and the stator housing includes aradial contact surface which makes contact with the casing in a radialdirection, a circumferential contact surface which makes contact withthe casing in a circumferential direction, an axial contact surfacewhich makes contact with the casing in an axial direction, and a heatdissipating surface exposed to the wind tunnel.

According to one exemplary preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the casing and the stator housing are brought into contactwith each other in the radial direction, the circumferential directionand the axial direction. This makes it possible to increase the contactarea between the casing and the stator housing, thereby reducing thevibration of the blower. In addition, it is possible to efficientlydissipate the heat generated in the stator from the heat dissipatingsurface of the stator housing to the gas existing within the windtunnel.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a blower according to a firstpreferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a stator housing according to thefirst preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the stator housing according to the firstpreferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a blower according to a secondpreferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a stator housing according to thesecond preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stator housing according to the secondpreferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a blower according to amodification.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a blower according to anothermodification.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a blower according to a furthermodification.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a blower according to a stillfurther modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Some exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the subjectapplication, the direction parallel to or substantially parallel to acenter axis of a motor provided within a blower will be referred to asan “axial direction”. The direction orthogonal to or substantiallyorthogonal to the center axis of the motor will be referred to as a“radial direction”. The direction extending along an arc centered at thecenter axis of the motor will be referred to as a “circumferentialdirection”. In the preferred embodiments described below, the shape andpositional relationship of the respective parts will be described bydefining the axial direction as an up-down direction and by defining theside of an impeller with respect to a motor as an upper side. However,the definition of the up-down direction is not intended to limit thein-use direction of the blower according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a blower 1 according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. The blower 1 is aso-called centrifugal blower which discharges an axially-sucked gas in atangential direction by rotating an impeller 20 with the power of amotor 10. For example, the blower 1 is used to feed an air into a humanrespiratory tract during sleep. Specifically, the blower 1 is mounted toa medical-purpose artificial respirator for use in a nasal continuouspositive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy by which an airway is securedduring sleep of a patient who suffers from a sleep apnea syndrome. Whena patient wears the artificial respirator and goes to bed, an air iscontinuously fed into the respiratory tract of the patient during sleep.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the blower 1 of the present preferredembodiment preferably includes a motor 10, an impeller 20 and a casing30.

The motor 10 is a drive power source for rotating the impeller 20. Themotor 10 rotates the impeller 20 about a center axis 9. The motor 10preferably includes a shaft 11, a rotor 12, a stator 13 and a statorhousing 14. The shaft 11 is a columnar member disposed along the centeraxis 9. The impeller 20 is fixed to an upper end portion of the shaft11. That is to say, in the present preferred embodiment, the rotor 12and the impeller 20 are fixed to each other through the shaft 11. Theimpeller 20 is disposed within the casing 30.

The rotor 12 is fixed to the impeller 20 either directly or throughanother member. The rotor 12 preferably includes a cylindrical rotorcore 121 and a magnet 122. For example, laminated steel plates asmagnetic bodies are used as the rotor core 121. The magnet 122 is fixedto an outer circumferential surface of the rotor core 121. On the radialouter surface of the magnet 122, an N pole and an S pole are alternatelymagnetized in the circumferential direction. The magnet 122 may becomposed of a plurality of magnets or a single annular magnet.

The stator 13 is disposed radially outward of the rotor 12. The stator13 preferably includes a stator core 131 and a plurality of coils 132.For example, laminated steel plates as magnetic bodies are used as thestator core 131. The stator core 131 preferably includes a ring-shapedcore-back 41 and a plurality of teeth 42 protruding radially inward fromthe core-back 41. The teeth 42 are disposed at a regular interval in thecircumferential direction. The coils 132 are configured by conductivewires wound around the respective teeth 42. A resin-made insulator 133is interposed between the teeth 42 and the coils 132. Thus, the teeth 42and the coils 132 are electrically insulated from each other.

The stator 13 generates rotating magnetic fields between the stator 13and the rotor 12. More specifically, if a drive current is supplied tothe coils 132 of the stator 13, magnetic fluxes are generated in theteeth 42 of the stator core 131. A circumferential torque is generatedby the action of the magnetic fluxes generated between the teeth 42 andthe magnet 122. As a result, the rotor 12 and the shaft 11 are rotatedabout the center axis 9. As the shaft 11 rotates, the impeller 20 fixedto the shaft 11 is also rotated about the center axis 9. In other words,the shaft 11 rotates together with the rotor 12 and the impeller 20.

The stator housing 14 holds the stator 13. More specifically, the statorhousing 14 is a member fixed to the casing 30 and arranged to hold thestator 13. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the stator housing 14.FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the stator housing 14. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the stator housing 14 preferably includes a tubularportion 141, a disc portion 142, a bearing holding portion 143 and aplurality of ribs 144.

The tubular portion 141 is arranged radially outward of the stator 13and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so as to extend inthe axial direction. The stator core 131 is fixed to an innercircumferential surface of the tubular portion 141. The upper endportion of the tubular portion 141 extends upward beyond the stator 13.The disc portion 142 extends radially inward from the upper end portionof tubular portion 141. The bearing holding portion 143 extends upwardand downward from the radial inner end portion of the disc portion 142in a substantially cylindrical shape. The ribs 144 are disposed at theside of the lower surface of the disc portion 142 to radiallyinterconnect an outer circumferential surface of the bearing holdingportion 143 and the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion141. The rigidity of the stator housing 14 is enhanced by the ribs 144.

The stator housing 14 preferably includes a radial contact surface 63which makes contact with the casing 30 in the radial direction,circumferential contact surfaces 62 which make contact with the casing30 in the circumferential direction, axial contact surfaces 61 whichmake contact with the casing 30 in the axial direction, and heatdissipating surfaces 64 exposed to a wind tunnel 35. As will bedescribed later, the stator housing 14 of the present preferredembodiment becomes a dissipation route of heat generated in the stator13. For that reason, metal exhibiting high heat dissipation, such asaluminum, aluminum alloy or the like, may be used as a material of thestator housing 14. Particularly, in a medical instrument such as anartificial respirator or the like which is directly handled by apatient, the reliability and light weight of the medical instrument areimportant design subjects. Use of aluminum or aluminum alloy makes itpossible to reduce the weight of the blower 1 while enhancing thestrength of the stator housing 14.

A plurality of bearings is interposed between the stator housing 14 oranother member fixed to the stator housing 14 and the shaft 11. In thepresent preferred embodiment, a pair of bearings 51 and 52 is interposedbetween the bearing holding portion 143 and the shaft 11. For example,ball bearings are used as the bearings 51 and 52. An outer race of eachof the bearings 51 and 52 is fixed to an inner circumferential surfaceof the bearing holding portion 143. An inner race of each of thebearings 51 and 52 is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of theshaft 11. Thus, the shaft 11, the rotor 12 and the impeller 20 arerotatably supported with respect to the stator housing 14.

The bearings 51 and 52 are disposed at the same side of the rotor 12 inthe axial direction. In the present preferred embodiment, all thebearings 51 and 52 are disposed axially upward of the rotor 12 at theside of the impeller 20. All the bearings 51 and 52 are held by thestator housing 14. If the two bearings 51 and 52 are disposed at thesame side of the rotor 12 in the axial direction as mentioned above, itbecomes easy to hold the two bearings 51 and 52 with a single part.Furthermore, if the bearings 51 and 52 are held by a single part, it iseasy to dispose the shaft 11 in a coaxial relationship with the centeraxis 9.

In the present preferred embodiment, the bearings 51 and 52 do notcompletely protrude upward from the disc portion 142 of the statorhousing 14. The upper bearing 51 is disposed in such a position as toradially overlap with a portion of the disc portion 142 of the statorhousing 14. The lower bearing 52 is disposed in such a position as toradially overlap with the tubular portion 141 of the stator housing 14.By doing so, the distance from the bearings 51 and 52 to the tubularportion 141 becomes short. Accordingly, it is possible to suppresstilting of the stator housing 14 with respect to the shaft 11.

The impeller 20 is disposed at the upper side of the stator housing 14and is fixed to the shaft 11. The impeller 20 preferably includes asubstantially disc-shaped blade support portion 21 and a plurality ofblades 22. The blade support portion 21 extends perpendicularly orsubstantially perpendicularly with respect to the center axis 9. Theblades 22 are disposed at a regular interval in the circumferentialdirection. Furthermore, the blades 22 extend radially along an uppersurface of the blade support portion 21. For example, a resin such asPBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate) or the like may beused as a material of the impeller 20. However, a material other than aresin, such as metal or the like, may be used as the material of theimpeller 20.

The motor 10 and the impeller 20 are disposed within the casing 30. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the casing 30 of the present preferred embodimentpreferably includes a first casing member 31 and a second casing member32 disposed above the first casing member 31. The first casing member 31surrounds the stator 13 and the stator housing 14. The second casingmember 32 surrounds the impeller 20.

The first casing member 31 and the second casing member 32 are fixed toeach other by screwing or engagement. An elastomer-made seal material(not illustrated) is interposed between the first casing member 31 andthe second casing member 32. Leakage of a gas from a gap between thefirst casing member and the second casing member 32 is prevented by theseal member.

For example, a resin such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PC(polycarbonate) or the like may be used as a material of the firstcasing member 31 and the second casing member 32. The first casingmember 31 is obtained by so-called insert molding in which the statorhousing 14 is disposed within a mold and a resin is introduced into andsolidified within the mold. That is to say, the first casing member 31(the casing 30) of the present preferred embodiment is a resin-moldedarticle which uses the stator housing 14 as an insert part. Use of theinsert molding makes it possible to bring the stator housing 14 and thefirst casing member 31 into close contact with each other.

Alternatively, the first casing member 31 may be molded independently ofthe stator housing 14. The stator housing 14 may be fixed to the moldedfirst casing member 31 by an adhesive agent or the like.

The casing 30 preferably includes an intake port 33, an exhaust port 34and a wind tunnel 35. At the upper side of the impeller 20, the intakeport 33 axially penetrates the second casing member 32. That is to say,the intake port 33 is opened toward the center of the impeller 20. Morespecifically, the intake port 33 is opened from a space existing abovethe second casing member 32 toward the center of the impeller 20. Theexhaust port 34 is positioned radially outward of the impeller 20 andthe motor 10. At the radial outer side of the motor 10 and the impeller20, the exhaust port 34 is opened in a tangential direction of animaginary circle centered at the center axis 9. Furthermore, the windtunnel 35 serving as a flow path of a gas is defined within the casing30. The wind tunnel 35 extends in a ring shape around the motor 10 andthe impeller 20. In addition, the intake port 33 and the exhaust port 34communicate with each other through the wind tunnel 35. In other words,the wind tunnel 35 brings the intake port 33 and the exhaust port 34into communication with each other and extends in a ring shape aroundthe motor 10.

During the operation of the motor 10, the impeller 20 rotates togetherwith the shaft 11. Thus, a gas is sucked from a space above the casing30 into the casing 30 through the intake port 33. The sucked gas isaccelerated by the impeller 20 so as to swirl within the wind tunnel 35.The gas swirling within the wind tunnel 35 is discharged to the outsideof the casing 30 through the exhaust port 34.

Next, descriptions will be made on the detailed shape of the statorhousing 14 and the first casing member 31.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a plurality of gear-shaped salientportions 145 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of thestator housing 14 of the present preferred embodiment. Each of thesalient portions 145 protrude radially outward from the outercircumferential surface of the tubular portion 141. The salient portions145 are disposed at a substantially regular interval in thecircumferential direction. Each of the salient portions 145 extends inthe axial direction on the outer circumferential surface of the statorhousing 14. More specifically, each of the salient portions 145 axiallyextends in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape on the outercircumferential surface of the stator housing 14.

In the meantime, the casing 30 preferably includes a ring-shaped holderportion 311 positioned radially inward of the wind tunnel 35. Morespecifically, the first casing member 31 preferably includes a holderportion 311 formed around the stator housing 14. The holder portion 311is positioned radially inward of the wind tunnel 35. The holder portion311 extends upward along the outer circumferential surface of thetubular portion 141 between the salient portions 145 and has an upperend portion extending in a ring shape. The holder portion 311 of thepresent preferred embodiment includes a plurality ofradially-penetrating through-holes 60 or a plurality ofradially-penetrating cutouts. The through-holes 60 are disposed at asubstantially regular interval in the circumferential direction. Thesalient portions 145 of the stator housing 14 are respectively fitted tothe through-holes 60 or the cutouts. That is to say, the salientportions 145 of the stator housing 14 of the present preferredembodiment are respectively fitted to the through-holes 60 of the holderportion 311. The outer end surfaces of the salient portions 145 becomeheat dissipating surfaces 64.

Thus, in the present preferred embodiment, the upper and lower surfacesof the salient portions 145 of the stator housing 14 become axialcontact surfaces 61 that make contact with the holder portion 311 of thefirst casing member 31 in the axial direction. The circumferentialopposite end surfaces of each of the salient portions 145 becomecircumferential contact surfaces 62 that make contact with the holderportion 311 of the first casing member 31 in the circumferentialdirection. The outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion 141becomes a radial contact surface 63 that makes contact with the holderportion 311 of the first casing member 31 in the radial direction.

As described above, in the blower 1 of the present preferred embodiment,the stator housing 14 and the first casing member 31 makesurface-to-surface contact with each other in three directions, namelythe radial direction, the circumferential direction and the axialdirection. As a result, the contact area between the stator housing 14and the first casing member 31 becomes larger. Accordingly, the statorhousing and the first casing member 31 are strongly fixed to each other.During the operation of the blower 1, the vibration generated in thestator 13 is transferred to the first casing member 31 through thestator housing 14. Since the stator housing 14 is held in threedirections with respect to the first casing member 31, it is possible toefficiently suppress the vibration thus transferred. Accordingly, it ispossible to reduce the vibration and noises generated during theoperation of the blower 1.

The holder portion 311 of the first casing member 31 does not coverradial outer end surfaces of the salient portions 145. For that reason,the radial outer end surfaces of the salient portions 145 are exposed tothe wind tunnel 35. During the operation of the blower 1, the heatgenerated in the coils 132 is transferred to the stator housing 14 viathe stator core 131. Then, the heat is dissipated from the radial outerend surfaces of the salient portions 145 to the gas existing within thewind tunnel 35. Thus, the stator 13 is efficiently cooled. As describedabove, in the present preferred embodiment, the radial outer endsurfaces of the salient portions 145 become the heat dissipatingsurfaces 64 that dissipate the heat of the stator 13 to the outside.

Particularly, in the present preferred embodiment, the salient portions145 are disposed at a substantially regular interval in thecircumferential direction. For that reason, it is possible to uniformlyobtain the effects of vibration reduction and heat dissipation aroundthe stator 13.

In the present preferred embodiment, the radial outer surface of theholder portion 311 and the radial outer end surfaces of the salientportions 145 are positioned on an identical imaginary cylindrical planecentered at the center axis 9. The identical imaginary cylindrical planeincludes a substantially identical imaginary cylindrical plane. For thatreason, as compared with a case where the radial outer end surfaces ofthe salient portions 145 are positioned radially inward of the radialouter surface of the holder portion 311, it is easy for the gas existingwithin the wind tunnel 35 to make contact with the end surfaces of thesalient portions 145. Accordingly, the heat of the salient portions 145is efficiently transferred to the gas existing within the wind tunnel35. That is to say, in the present preferred embodiment, it is possibleto efficiently dissipate heat from the salient portions 145 to the gasexisting within the wind tunnel 35.

However, the salient portions 145 of the present preferred embodiment donot protrude from the holder portion 311 into the wind tunnel 35. Forthat reason, the flow of the gas existing within the wind tunnel 35 isnot hindered by the salient portions 145. Accordingly, in the presentpreferred embodiment, it is possible to prevent loss of an air volumeotherwise caused by the salient portions 145 and to prevent generationof wind noises.

In the present preferred embodiment, the material of the stator housing14 is metal and the material of the first casing member 31 is a resin.That is to say, the material of the stator housing 14 and the materialof the casing 30 (the first casing member 31) differ from each other. Ifdifferent materials are brought into contact with each other in thisway, it is possible to efficiently attenuate the vibration transferredfrom the stator housing 14 to the first casing member 31. Furthermore,resonance is unlikely to occur between the stator housing 14 and thefirst casing member 31. Accordingly, it is possible to efficientlyreduce the vibration and noises generated during the operation of theblower 1.

Particularly, in an artificial respirator used by a patient duringsleep, quietness and long-term reliability are important. If thestructure of the present preferred embodiment is employed, it ispossible to reduce the vibration and noises generated during theoperation of the blower 1. Furthermore, it is possible to efficientlydissipate heat of the stator 13 to the outside, thereby improving theservice life of the blower 1.

In the present preferred embodiment, the through-holes 60 as closedholes are provided in the holder portion 311 of the first casing member31. Alternatively, the holder portion 311 may include a plurality ofcutouts opened upward or downward, instead of the through-holes 60. Thesalient portions 145 of the stator housing 14 may be fitted to thecutouts. In addition, the salient portions 145 do not necessarily needto be disposed at a regular interval in the circumferential direction.As an alternative example, the salient portions 145 may be disposed atirregular intervals in the circumferential direction.

Subsequently, descriptions will be made on a second preferred embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of ablower 1A according to a second preferred embodiment. FIG. 5 is avertical sectional view of a stator housing 14A according to the secondpreferred embodiment. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stator housing 14Aaccording to the second preferred embodiment. The blower 1A of thepresent preferred embodiment differs from the blower 1 of the firstpreferred embodiment in terms of the structures of a stator housing 14Aand a first casing member 31A. Thus, the following descriptions will becentered on the structures of the stator housing 14A and the firstcasing member 31A. Other parts remain the same as those of the firstpreferred embodiment and, therefore, duplicate descriptions thereon willbe omitted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the stator housing 14A of thepresent preferred embodiment preferably includes a substantiallycylindrical outer circumferential surface having no unevenness. Theouter circumferential surface of the stator housing 14A is exposed tothe wind tunnel 35A. During the operation of the blower 1A, the heatgenerated in the coils 132A is transferred to the stator housing 14A viathe stator core 131A. Then, the heat of the stator housing 14A istransferred from the outer circumferential surface of the stator housing14A to the gas existing within the wind tunnel 35A. Thus, the stator 13Ais cooled. As described above, in the present preferred embodiment, thecylindrical outer circumferential surface of the stator housing 14Abecomes a heat dissipating surface 64A that dissipates the heat of thestator 13A to the outside.

The stator housing 14A of the present preferred embodiment preferablyincludes three through-holes 146A. Each of the through-holes 146Aaxially penetrates the tubular portion 141A of the stator housing 14A.In the meantime, the first casing member 31A preferably includes threecolumnar portions 312A and a ring-shaped portion 313A. The threecolumnar portions 312A axially extend within the through-holes 146A ofthe stator housing 14A. The ring-shaped portion 313A is an annularportion that covers the upper surface of the tubular portion 141A.

The first casing member 31A is manufactured by introducing a resin intoa mold and solidifying the resin in a state in which the stator housing14A is disposed within the mold. At this time, the resin is also filledin the three through-holes 146A of the stator housing 14A. Thus, thethree columnar portions 312A are formed.

In the present preferred embodiment, the upper and lower surfaces of thestator housing 14A become axial contact surfaces 61A that make contactwith the first casing member 31A in the axial direction. The surfaceswhich define each of the through-holes 146A of the stator housing 14Apreferably include circumferential contact surfaces 62A that makecontact with each of the columnar portions 312A of the first casingmember 31A in the circumferential direction and radial contact surfaces63A that make contact with each of the columnar portions 312A of thefirst casing member 31A in the radial direction.

As described above, even in the blower 1A of the present preferredembodiment, the stator housing 14A and the first casing member 31A makesurface-to-surface contact with each other in three directions, namelythe radial direction, the circumferential direction and the axialdirection. Thus, the contact area between the stator housing 14A and thefirst casing member 31A increases. Accordingly, the stator housing 14Aand the first casing member 31A are strongly fixed to each other. Duringthe operation of the blower 1A, the vibration generated in the stator13A is transferred to the first casing member 31A through the statorhousing 14A. Since the stator housing 14A is held in three directionswith respect to the first casing member 31A, it is possible toefficiently suppress the vibration thus transferred. Accordingly, it ispossible to reduce the vibration and noises generated during theoperation of the blower 1A.

In the blower 1A of the present preferred embodiment, the outercircumferential surface of the stator housing 14A is exposed to the windtunnel 35A over the entire circumference thereof. In other words, theheat dissipating surface 64A is a cylindrical surface exposed to thewind tunnel 35A over the entire circumference thereof. For that reason,in the present preferred embodiment, it is possible to obtain a heatdissipating effect over the entire circumference of the motor 10A.

While some exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen described above, the present invention is not limited to theaforementioned preferred embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a blower 1B according to onemodification. In the modification illustrated in FIG. 7, the statorhousing 14B preferably includes two members, namely a housing body 71Band a ring member 72B. The housing body 71B has a shape equivalent tothe shape of the stator housing 14 of the first preferred embodiment.The ring member 72B is a cylindrical member and is attached to theradial outer side of the housing body 71B and the holder portion 311B.In other words, the ring member 72B is positioned radially outward ofthe housing body 71B. A fixing method of the ring member 72B may beeither press-fit or bonding using an adhesive agent. As a material ofthe ring member 72B, it may be possible to use, e.g., metal having highheat conductivity such as aluminum or the like. The housing body 71B andthe ring member 72B make contact with each other. Specifically, theinner circumferential surface of the ring member 72B makes contact withthe radial outer end surfaces of a plurality of salient portions 145B.

By doing so, the heat transferred from the stator 13B to the housingbody 71B is transferred to a gas existing within the wind tunnel 35B viathe ring member 72B. At least the outer circumferential surface of thering member 72B is a heat dissipating surface 64B. That is to say, inthe modification illustrated in FIG. 7, the entirety of the cylindricalouter circumferential surface of the ring member 72B becomes a heatdissipating surface 64B that dissipates heat of the stator 13B to theoutside. Accordingly, as compared with the first preferred embodiment,the ring member 72B can increase the area of the heat dissipatingsurface 64B. As a result, the ring member 72B can further enhance theheat dissipation effect.

The shape of the ring member 72B having the structure of FIG. 7 may bemodified to a shape illustrated in FIG. 8. In the modification of FIG.8, the ring member 72B preferably includes a cylindrical portion 721Band a flange portion 722B. The cylindrical portion 721B is positionedradially outward of the housing body 71B and the holder portion 311B soas to axially extend in a cylindrical shape. The flange portion 722Bprotrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion 721B. Morespecifically, the flange portion 722B protrudes radially outward fromthe upper end of the cylindrical portion 721B. In the modification ofFIG. 8, the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion721B and the surface of the flange portion 722B become heat dissipatingsurfaces 64B. Accordingly, as compared with the modification of FIG. 7,it is possible to further increase the area of the heat dissipatingsurfaces 64B. As a result, it is possible to further enhance the heatdissipation effect.

In the modification of FIG. 8, the radial outer end of the flangeportion 722B is positioned radially outward of the radial outer end ofthe impeller 20B. By doing so, it is possible to restrain an airflow,which comes into a space existing below the flange portion 722B, fromcolliding with a subsequent airflow introduced from the impeller 20Binto the wind tunnel 35B. This makes it possible to further reducenoises generated during the operation of the blower 1B.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a blower 1C according to afurther modification. In the modification of FIG. 9, the stator housing14C preferably includes two members, namely a housing body 71C and aring member 72C. The housing body 71C has a shape equivalent to theshape of the stator housing 14A of the second preferred embodiment. Thering member 72C is a cylindrical member and is attached to the radialouter side of the housing body 71C. A fixing method of the ring member72C may be either press-fit or bonding using an adhesive agent. As amaterial of the ring member 72C, it may be possible to use, e.g., metalhaving high heat conductivity such as aluminum or the like. The innercircumferential surface of the ring member 72C makes contact with thecylindrical outer circumferential surface of the housing body 71C.

By doing so, the heat transferred from the stator 13C to the housingbody 71C can be dissipated to a gas existing within the wind tunnel 35Cvia the ring member 72C. That is to say, in the modification illustratedin FIG. 9, the entirety of the cylindrical outer circumferential surfaceof the ring member 72C becomes a heat dissipating surface 64C thatdissipates heat of the stator 13C to the outside. Particularly, in themodification of FIG. 9, the diameter of the outer circumferentialsurface of the ring member 72C is larger than the diameter of thehousing body 71C, and the axial length of the outer circumferentialsurface of the ring member 72C is larger than the axial length of theouter circumferential surface of the housing body 71C. Accordingly, ascompared with the second preferred embodiment, it is possible toincrease the area of the heat dissipating surface 64C. As a result, itis possible to further enhance the heat dissipation effect.

The shape of the ring member 72C having the structure of FIG. 9 may bemodified to a shape illustrated in FIG. 10. In the modification of FIG.10, the ring member 72C preferably includes a cylindrical portion 721Cand a flange portion 722C. The cylindrical portion 721C is positionedradially outward of the housing body 71C so as to axially extend in acylindrical shape. The flange portion 722C protrudes radially outwardfrom the upper end of the cylindrical portion 721C. In the modificationof FIG. 10, the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion721C and the surface of the flange portion 722C become heat dissipatingsurfaces 64C. Accordingly, as compared with the modification of FIG. 9,it is possible to further increase the area of the heat dissipatingsurfaces 64C. As a result, it is possible to further enhance the heatdissipation effect.

In the modification of FIG. 10, the radial outer end of the flangeportion 722C is positioned radially outward of the radial outer end ofthe impeller 20C. By doing so, it is possible to restrain an airflow,which comes into a space existing below the flange portion 722C, fromcolliding with a subsequent airflow introduced from the impeller 20Cinto the wind tunnel 35C. Thus, in the modification of FIG. 10, it ispossible to further reduce noises generated during the operation of theblower 1C.

In the preferred embodiments described above, the rotor and the impellerare fixed to each other through the shaft. However, the rotor and theimpeller may be directly fixed to each other without going through theshaft.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiments described above, a pair ofbearings is interposed between the stator housing and the shaft.Alternatively, another member may be fixed to the radial inner side ofthe stator housing, and a plurality of bearings may be interposedbetween another member and the shaft. In the preferred embodimentsdescribed above, a plurality of bearings is disposed at the same side ofthe rotor in the axial direction. Alternatively, a plurality of bearingsmay be divisionally disposed at the upper and lower sides of the rotor.In addition, the number of bearings may be three or more.

The blower of each of the aforementioned preferred embodiments ismounted to a medical-purpose artificial respirator. However, the blowerof the present invention may be used in applications other than amedical instrument, such as a cooling fan, a cleaner and the like.

The detailed shapes of the respective members constituting the blowermay differ from the shapes illustrated in the drawings of the subjectapplication. The respective elements appearing in the preferredembodiments and the modifications described above may be suitablycombined unless a conflict arises.

The present invention may be used in, e.g., a centrifugal blower.

Features of the above-described preferred embodiments and themodifications thereof may be combined appropriately as long as noconflict arises.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention,therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A centrifugal blower, comprising: a casing; animpeller disposed within the casing; and a motor arranged to rotate theimpeller about a center axis, wherein the casing includes an intake portopened toward a center of the impeller, an exhaust port positionedradially outward of the impeller and the motor, and a wind tunnelarranged to bring the intake port and the exhaust port intocommunication with each other and arranged to extend in a ring shapearound the motor, the motor includes a shaft disposed along the centeraxis, a rotor fixed to the impeller through the shaft, a stator disposedradially outward of the rotor and arranged to generate rotating magneticfields between the stator and the rotor, and a stator housing arrangedto hold the stator, the stator housing includes a radial contact surfacewhich makes contact with the casing in a radial direction, acircumferential contact surface which makes contact with the casing in acircumferential direction, an axial contact surface which makes contactwith the casing in an axial direction, and a heat dissipating surfaceexposed to the wind tunnel, the stator housing includes a plurality ofsalient portions on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the casingincludes a ring-shaped holder portion positioned radially inward of thewind tunnel, the holder portion includes a plurality of through-holes orcutouts radially penetrating the holder portion, the salient portionsare respectively fitted to the through-holes or cutouts, and each of thesalient portions includes an outer end surface serving as the heatdissipating surface.
 2. The blower of claim 1, wherein the salientportions are disposed at a predetermined interval in the circumferentialdirection, and each of the salient portions extends in the axialdirection on an outer circumferential surface of the stator housing. 3.The blower of claim 1, wherein the salient portions are disposed at asubstantially regular interval in the circumferential direction.
 4. Theblower of claim 1, wherein a radial outer surface of the holder portionand radial outer end surfaces of the salient portions are positioned ona substantially identical imaginary cylindrical plane.
 5. The blower ofclaim 1, wherein a material of the stator housing and a material of thecasing differ from each other.
 6. The blower of claim 5, wherein thematerial of the stator housing is metal, and the material of the casingis a resin.
 7. The blower of claim 6, wherein the material of the statorhousing is aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
 8. The blower of claim 6,wherein the casing is a resin-molded article that uses the statorhousing as an insert part.
 9. The blower of claim 1, wherein the statorhousing includes a housing body and a ring member positioned radiallyoutward of the housing body, the housing body and the ring member arearranged to make contact with each other, and at least an outercircumferential surface of the ring member becomes the heat dissipatingsurface.
 10. The blower of claim 9, wherein the ring member includes acylindrical portion disposed radially outward of the housing body so asto axially extend in a cylindrical shape and a flange portion protrudingradially outward from the cylindrical portion.
 11. The blower of claim1, further comprising: a shaft disposed along the center axis andarranged to rotate together with the rotor and the impeller; and aplurality of bearings interposed between the stator housing and theshaft, wherein the bearings are disposed at the same side of the rotorin the axial direction.
 12. The blower of claim 1, which is configuredto be used to feed an air to a respiratory tract of a sleeping human.